Before the national championship game,
Coach Amber Warners told her team: “Trust me when I tell you, you
don’t want to have any regrets.”

She didn’t have to say any more. The Knights understood.

On Nov. 22, 1986, the Calvin volleyball
team, led by freshman setter Amber Blankespoor
Warners, squared off against the University of
California–San Diego. Calvin fell in five sets,
leaving the Knights with an outstanding secondplace
finish.

Exactly 24 years later, on Nov. 22, Calvin, again
led by Warners–this time as coach, took the floor
with top ranked Emory University. This time the
outcome was different.

“It was very rewarding. As a coach, you dream
about this,” she said. “The whole experience was
very validating.”

“I’m honored and grateful to my team. Their head nods and eye contact mean more to me than
anything else,” said Warners. For the team, the
tournament was a chance to showcase not only
their title, but also their gratitude for their coach.